First Impressions: Starmobile Engage 7-inch Android tablet

Starmobile is Filipino mobile phone company that specializes in affordable feature phones of their own design. It’s no surprise that sooner or later the company will also release their own Android devices.

The Starmobile Engage is their first Android tablet at 7-inch and has a retail price of just Php5,990. Can’t believe the price right? At that price, what you can usually get are entry-level Android smartphones.

We received a unit of Starmobile Engage recently so allow us to share to you our first impressions.

Inside the box, you’ll get the tablet itself, the charger, generic earphones, manual and the warranty card. Pretty basic stuff.

Lifting the Engage we immediately notice how light it is. The 7-inch display has a wide bezel surrounding it with the Starmobile logo below it. If you notice that the display is not that sharp, well it’s because of the low 800 x 480 resolution which you rarely see even in smartphones with 4.3-inch display.

It has a curved back with a matte black finish to discourage smudges and fingerprints. Upper right at the back you’ll find the typical 3.0 megapixel camera (no flash) you find in entry-level Android phones. Speaker grill is located on the lower right portion at the back. There’s also a VGA camera in front which works with video calls like Skype.

At the bottom edge of the tablet you’ll be greeted with a whole LOT of ports. From left to right you’ll get the Home button, Reset pinhole, mic, 3.5mm earphone jack, DC charging port, mini-USB, a regular USB, standard HDMI port, microSD slot, and the Power/Sleep button.

The Starmobile Engage is a WiFi-only device but you can use your 3G or 3.5G USB dongle with it. You can also plug in a USB flash drive and access its contents with this tablet. You need a file explorer app for it though which you can easily get from Google Play.

This tablet runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich already and is powered by a single-core 1.2GHz CPU with 1 GB RAM. Haven’t really used it that much but I experienced a little bit of lag when waking this device. There’s a 5GB internal storage here so you’d want to make use of the microSD slot for expansion.

Bottomline here is the Starmobile Engage won’t “œwow” you in terms of looks but it has a unique design compared to other budget tablets in the market. The specs are not something you will like to show off either but they’re serviceable for the price that you are paying for. You will also get a lot of functionalities out of this device thanks to its myriad of ports.

The thing is, for just Php5,995, you’ll get a lightweight 7-inch Android tablet you can use to watch videos, surf, read books, video chat and play casual games with. Starmobile also prides itself with the high-quality of customer support they give which is their edge over other affordable brands in the market.

Very true. Ainol is another Chinese manufacturer that delivers bang for buck devices. It’s nice that Cherry Mobile relies on them for ODM tablets. Starmobile is taking another admirable approach by designing their own stuff and then having a Chinese manufacturer make it for them. Either way, you get good local support.

Jade

That’s nice,The Specification and appearance of this tablet is good and the price is very Affordable.

I’m pretty pleased to find this website. I wanted to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely savored every bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to check out new information on your web site.

Hi, I just got my engage 7hd today. Everything works fine except when I try downloading apps it get an error saying “it could not be downloaded due to an error (error retrieving information from server.(RPC.S-5 AEC-O ). Please help..

mariel

Hi, I just got my engage 7hd today. Everything works fine except when I try downloading apps it get an error saying “it could not be downloaded due to an error (error retrieving information from server.(RPC.S-5 AEC-O ). Please help me what to do..thanks

hi.everyone im juann of cadiz city negros occ.
i am just ask one question…..
is the starmobile engage tablet is available in negros occ.
b’cos i am erning money to buy it……….

gresha

powet mo

Anti_Kimchi

DEC 25th 2012! I bought two units yesterday at the price of 4,990P each! I wanted to install games before the kids opened their presents, so I tried to do so on the 24th. Farmville installed, but then it would NOT run due to the fact it didn’t have permission to run on Android. After I uninstalled it I could not re-download it. (Magic Jack nor Viber are compatible.) Could NOT get the GLOBE USB 3G Dongle to work at the shop where I bought them. It DID however accept a flash memory USB stick! Very cool!! You will have to go to SETTINGS for Skype to enable the video. Tango works too! (I miss the iPod style Â HOME BUTTON). Responsiveness isn’t too bad for a unit costing this little. It take a little getting used to it. Back to apps: VLC is in Beta. It didn’t work well. I had to convert Matroska (MKV) files to MP4 files so they could be viewed. Good old Quicktime 7 Pro converts with ease.
Any questions? Just ask.
AK

Yes, thank you. All I have to do is open the movie with QuickTime and save as a movie. So easy.

Gentlemen,
I wrote my comments in English. In that way the majority of the World can read it.Â
Update: got my Globe 3G doggie to work. Connected to the Internet at a higher speed than my PLDT Wi-Fi. Got 5 Bars at the bottom Along with the 3G to light up.Â
Skype: after log in video can be enabled. In Tango it was automatic. I believe Starmobile does not want its users to be able to use Teleohone/calling apps, hence Viber and Magicjack don’t work.Â
As for creating a HOT SPOT there is no setting for that. I’m new to android. Perhaps there’s an app for that?

Anti_kimchi

Yes, thank you. All I have to do is open the movie with QuickTime and save as a movie. So easy.

Gentlemen,
I wrote my comments in English. In that way the majority of the World can read it.Â
Update: got my Globe 3G doggie to work. Connected to the Internet at a higher speed than my PLDT Wi-Fi. Got 5 Bars at the bottom Along with the 3G to light up.Â
Skype: after log in video can be enabled. In Tango it was automatic. I believe Starmobile does not want its users to be able to use Telephone/calling apps, hence Viber and Magicjack don’t work.Â
As for creating a HOT SPOT there is no setting for that. I’m new to android. Perhaps there’s an app for that?

Edwin P.

What model of 3G dongle did you use? Any tips on how did you do that? Appreciate your help. Thanks

hi,how can I unlock my starmobile engage,pls help me find a way,I’ve just got my unit december…hope u can help me find the solution.thanks

Anti_kimchi

I only speak jaoanese and English. Are you saying you tried to connect a Globe USB 3G dongle to an engage 7? It does work! As for using the engage 7 for a HOT SPOT for sharing there’s no setting for that like on an android phone.

You have to change the settings on the engage.

Now, if you have a MACBOOK PRO you can easily set up a share network using your USB dongle. Easy as 123!

Anti_kimchi

Sorry. Typo. Japanese. Not jaoanese.

mac

mas maganda po bng lagyan ng anti virus ang tablet?//

d3athnote09

globe tatto model 152….. bakit ayaw sa tablet ko.

r.susano

Hi i just go my strmobile HD yestrdy i am usingmy globe dongle, signal is turns blu ise whch means signal
is good as written on its manual, kya lang loading slowy then later on ang mag aapear network is not working sumthing like that,kht full bar ang signarl, and on thing ore am using prepaid dko alam panu iregister ang tatoo ko sa super sure,

Edwin C

This tablet is cheap and ugly! It’s only for poor people who can hardly afford to even buy this stupid Filipino owned device!

Thrill

Hey! Edwin dont say bad words..You’re not helping people..Here.

einnela

Then why are you commenting here Mr. Edwin?

ena

If you don’t like it just shut up!!!!

jacinta

huuy, hindi naman. i think the product is a PC-killer pa nga with its usb features…mura naman so why dont you buy one para ma-check mo ang features.

In my experience I have connected to the Internet 3 different ways:
1. My Wi-Fi set up at my home.
2. Using a USB 3G dongle directly connected to the Engage.
3. Sharing a 3G connection: USB 3G dongle connected to my MBP. (MacBook Pro)

I would say that as long as the wifi signal you get is really CONNECTED to a modem you should be able to get online. (if it’s not password protected. If it IS password protected TRY to get the password and connect).

Sorry. No Tag spoken here.

ROMEO

hi! we are using wifi router provided by pldt. we put the router at the terrace of our house. other tab can connect easily, while my star mobile is having an instability in connection.
anyway if i connect to wifi in an enclosed area i have a very good connection. do yo

Anti_kimchi

The wifi router here is a Netgear. The signal is strong anywhere in the house and outside. All I can recommend is that you:
1. Reset using reset button ( far left)
2. Switch wifi off and on
3 . Mobile data switched off
4. Get close to the router. Switch wifi on the engage on. Get a signal. Walk away as far as you can while monitoring the signal.

Other than that I really don’t have any ideas except for a wi-Fi booster.

hi. can you help me what is the best or compatible broadband for starmobile engage? thnx

Anti_kimchi

YES! I can offer some assistance.Â

First of all I have been called a “troll” on this forum under the Nexus 4 topic. I resent that! I have the right to speak freely and I WILL NOT allow the Philippines to RIP ME OFF with their rediculously high price of 24,990p for a $299-$349 phone! Stand up to high prices.Â

Okay.Â

I have successfully connected to the Internet by using:

1. SMARTBRO Model:WM66A USB dongle

2. GLOBE Model:E153 Huwei USB dongle.Â

I haven’t tried the Sun Cellular modem, but it is the same model as the Globe. It just uses a different User Interface.Â

Both modems are from 2010. Smart is easier. No settings changes are necessary. Just make sure you have load.Â

The globe modem requires one settings change. Here’s the secret:

APN. Change the setting from “Internet” to “http”. Just like you would do in your iphone for prepaid.Â

i just wanna ask..how can i remove the image that i install well actually it is application..its just in the screen.but before that i uninstall..so what will i do.the image still on the screen..but f click.the apps isn’t install.how will i remove that.

mark

Hold the icon and drag to “X Remove”, the pop up menu you can see at the top of the screen..hope I help you solve your worries..:-)

vina

my niece got her android engage last december as her sister’s gift for her,unluckily it got locked how can i unlock it?hope you can help me…

Anti_kimchi

I had a similar problem with my low grade android phone known as kimchi galaxy y. I searched the web and found an UNLOCKING CODE. I entered the code to allow me to delete data so that I could sell the phone. I had forgotten the gmail password I had been using. This code resets to the default factory settings.

When you say the Engage 7 is locked you mean you can’t get past the LOCK SCREEN? For security reason you assigned a password whether it was using letters, numbers or the pattern?

the usb broadband capability is with this tablet however the newest version of those devices are mostly not compatible with tabs, mbps ea. 4-5 and lower are which can b used with this one. when i got mine i asked for the list of the dongles compatible with it.

Sun broadband plan? Ganyan ang gmit ko nkpag connect ako.. Just go to setting click more check data enable then click network operator then click select automatically.. Than wait for the signal, be sure to log in s google account then go to playstore.. You can now download games..

Paano po ba mapa reinstall ng system o OS yung starmobile tablet ko, kasi po nag hang sya hanggang dun sa android text and ang sabe nila is system crush daw and needs to reinstall ng system, where can I get a copy of that or have it reinstalled? I’m from Angeles City po. thank you!

i got starmobile tablet engage 7 for almmost 2 months now, i was playing earlier with my sisters tas nung mag next level na ung game bigla na lng ngstick sa loading yung screen. i tried the back button on the screen and the lock button several times but its not working. please somebody help me!

i am a victim of STARMOBILE. they did not honor the 7 day replacement period. so friends and enemies, BEWARE…DONT BE THE NEXT VICTIM. STARMOBILE’S SUPPORT SERVICE IS NOT SUPPORTIVE AT ALL. WALA KANG MAAASAHAN.

Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit,
but instead of that, this is wonderful blog.

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